Multiple access lock

ABSTRACT

Adjacent components are locked to one another with a lock mechanism having multiple access ports, each port being closed by a differential lock. The mechanism includes a bracket supporting spaced apart slideways, and a sleeve aligned with the slideways. A cup on one of the slideways has openings through which a bolt is slidably engaged in the slideways and sleeve. Removal of the bolt is effectively blocked pending removal of at least one of the differential locks in the ports.

United States Patent 11 1 Parker, Jr. Sept. 23, 1975 [5 MULTIPLE ACCESS LOCK 3,656,789 4/1972 Ray H 70/DIG. 63 [76] Inventor: Bill T. Parker, Jr., Pleasanton, Tex. FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 78064 284258 9/1928 United Kingdom 292/57 FFZIIICC v v I 1 v [52] US. Cl. [51] Int. C1.

Appl. No.: 491,682

..... 70/154; 292/57; 70/DIG. 63 E05C 5/00; E05B 63/02 Field of Search 70/154, DIG. 63; 292/148,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS King 292/57 Davis 292/284 Thompson 292/148 Wall 292/57 Bryant 292/283 Ritter, Sr. 292/341.15

Thomas 70/14 Johnson 70/77 Primary E.\'aminerRobert L. Wolfe Assistant E.taminerVictor N. Sakran Attorney, Agent, or FirmRobert G. McMorrow [57] ABSTRACT Adjacent components are locked to one another with a lock mechanism having multiple access ports, each port being closed by a differential lock. The mechanism includes a bracket supporting spaced apart slideways, and a sleeve aligned with the slideways. A cup on one of the slideways has openings through which a bolt is slidably engaged in the slideways and sleeve. Removal of the bolt is effectively blocked pending removal of at least one of the differential locks in the ports.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures MULTIPLE ACCEss LOCK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to multiple access locking devices, particularly to that category of locking mechanism in which access may be had to a particular area or opening by removal of,one of a plurality of different locks.

2, S tatement of Prior Art I Prior proposals in the field of multiple access locks are 'representatively shown in thefollowing U.S. pa-

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention pertains .to a multiple lock for a gate or the like. This type of mechanism isparticularly suited to use in those circumstances where numerous different parties are entitled to access to a premises, but may which to exercise the right of access at different times. The invention provides apparatus whereby such parties, via selective alignment of individual locks with an opening means, may individually open the mechanism.

The apparatus hereof is of noneomplex construction, and is readily operated. The unit is amenable to a number of individual locks, and the number is variable to provide for increases in the number of persons entitled to access.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the following specification when read in conjunction with the annexed drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a top plan view ofa multiple access lock according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing details taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the mechanism in open or unlocked position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing in more detail, the unit hereof is generally identified by reference character therein. Illustratively, the unit 10 may be used as a latch and lock for a gate 12 to a fence 14 or in any other similar environment. Here, the fence 14 includes a vertical end piece 16 having an anchor cleat 18 with a main vertical bight portion 20 and inward arms 22 and 24. The gate 12 also has a vertical end member 26.

A substantially rectangular bracket 28 is secured, as by heavy rivets 30, to the gate end member 26, and has an outer edge 32 and an upper edge 34. The bracket has a horizontal slot 36 opening on the edge 32. A pair of vertical tubular slideway members on the edge 32 of the bracket comprise an elongated vertical upper slideway member 38, and a lowervertical slideway member 40. These are vertically eo-aligned, and have coaxial passageways 42 and 44, respectively, on opposite sides of the slot 36, the space between the slideway members corresponding with the location and depth of the slot,

A double sleeve member 46 comprises two vertical sleeve portions 48 and 50 joined by a cross tab 52. The sleeve portion 48 is permanently journaled on the cleat about the bight portion 20 thereof, whereby the other sleeve portion 50 is pivotal into alignment with the slideway members 38 and 40. The sleeve portion 50 has a passageway 54 therein aligned with the coaxial passageways 42 and 44 of the slideway portions.

An important feature of the invention is a cup member 56 fixedly secured to the upper edge 34 of the bracket above the upper slideway member 38. The cup member includes a base 58 having an opening 60 aligned with the passageways 42 and 44, and a side wall 62 with an upper edge 64. A top wall 66 extends over the cup member and is spaced slightly inwardly from the edge 64. The wall 66 has an aperture 68 also aligned with the passageways 42,44 and the opening 60. The top wall has a series, three in number in' the illustrated embodiment, of radially spaced chambers 70 formed therein. Additional spaces 72 are provided for subsequent incorporation of additional chambers. Similarly, the side wall 62 has slits 74 therein aligned with the chambers.

A slidable bolt 76 includes an elongated main stem 78 riding in the passageways and extending through the opening 60 and aperture 68. The bolt includes an upper operating handle 80 employed for lifting and turning of the bolt. Within the cup member between the base 58 and top wall 66, a horizontal arm 82 extends laterally from the main stem. On the extremity of the arm 82 is a vertical lug bar 84 which may be aligned with a selected one of said chambers for movement therethrough.

As shown in the drawing, conventional padloeks 86 with loop 88 are extended through the chambers and slits to block movement of the lug bar through the chambers until the locks are removed.

Operation, assuming the unit 10 to be unlocked and open as shown in FIG. 3, involves alignment of the sleeve 50 between the slideways 38 and 40, and extension of the main stem 78 of the bolt therethrough. A lock is then placed in each chamber 70, whereupon the lug bar is no longer moveable through the chambers. Thereafter, the holder of a key to any one of the locks may remove it, align the lug bar with the then open chamber and open the unit.

I claim:

1. A multiple access lock mechanism for maintaining a first component in selected relation to a second component, the lock mechanism comprising:

a bracket on one of said components having dual vertically aligned slideway members thereon and a slot between the slideway members;

a sleeve member pivotally secured to the other of said components and alignable in said slot with said dual slideway members;

a cup member on one of said slideway members, the

cup member having radial slots;

a bolt slidable through the cup member and into the slideway members for engagement with the sleeve member;

a lug bar on the bolt in said cup member; and a plurality of lock members removably mounted in said radial slots to block movement of the lug bar when in place. 2. A multiple access lock mechanism for a gate and fence or the like, the fence having a vertical anchor cleat, the mechanism comprising:

a double sleeve member having a pair of vertical sleeve portions connected by a cross tab in spaced relation to one another, one of said sleeve portions being journaled on the vertical anchor cleat for pivotal movement thereon;

a bracket secured to the gate and having a horizontal slot therein aligned laterally with the double sleeve member, the double sleeve member being pivotal into a position wherein the other sleeve portion occupies the slot when the gate is closed;

a pair of tubular slideway members secured to the bracket. including an upper slideway member above said slot and a vertically aligned lower slideway member below the slot the slideway members having co-aligned passageways formed therein;

a cup member fixedly secured to the bracket and the upper slideway member. including a base having an opening therein aligned with the passageways of the slideway members a side wall with an upper edge, and a top wall;

the top wall of the cup member further having an aperture formed therein in alignment with the opening in the base and with the passageways;

the top wall of the cup member being recessed and having a plurality of radially arranged chambers therein extending inwardly from its periphery;

the side wall having slits therein in alignment with the respective chambers of the top wall and spaced downwardly from the upper edge of the side wall;

a slidable bolt including an elongated main stem riding in the passageways and extending through the base opening and the aperture of the top wall;

an operating handle on the main stem, the stem being engageable through the other of said sleeve portions of the sleeve member;

a horizontal arm on the main stem in said cup member between the base and the top wall thereof; and

a vertical lug bar on the horizontal arm, said lug bar being alignable for movement through a selected one of the chambers to permit lifting of the main stem out of engagement with the said other sleeve portion, and a padlock including a loop releasably extended through the slit and chamber to block movement of the lug bar to prevent unauthorized opening of the gate. 

1. A multiple access lock mechanism for maintaining a first component in selected relation to a second component, the lock mechanism comprising: a bracket on one of said components having dual vertically aligned slideway members thereon and a slot between the slideway members; a sleeve member pivotally secured to the other of said components and alignable in said slot with said dual slideway members; a cup member on one of said slideway members, the cup member having radial slots; a bolt slidable through the cup member and into the slideway members for engagement with the sleeve member; a lug bar on the bolt in said cup member; and a plurality of lock members removably mounted in said radial slots to block movement of the lug bar when in place.
 2. A multiple access lock mechanism for a gate and fence or the like, the fence having a vertical anchor cleat, the mechanism comprising: a double sleeve member having a pair of vertical sleeve portions connected by a cross tab in spaced relation to one another, one of said sleeve portions being journaled on the vertical anchor cleat for pivotal movement thereon; a bracket secured to the gate and having a horizontal slot therein aligned laterally with the double sleeve member, the double sleeve member being pivotal into a position wherein the Other sleeve portion occupies the slot when the gate is closed; a pair of tubular slideway members secured to the bracket, including an upper slideway member above said slot and a vertically aligned lower slideway member below the slot, the slideway members having co-aligned passageways formed therein; a cup member fixedly secured to the bracket and the upper slideway member, including a base having an opening therein aligned with the passageways of the slideway members, a side wall with an upper edge, and a top wall; the top wall of the cup member further having an aperture formed therein in alignment with the opening in the base and with the passageways; the top wall of the cup member being recessed and having a plurality of radially arranged chambers therein extending inwardly from its periphery; the side wall having slits therein in alignment with the respective chambers of the top wall and spaced downwardly from the upper edge of the side wall; a slidable bolt including an elongated main stem riding in the passageways and extending through the base opening and the aperture of the top wall; an operating handle on the main stem, the stem being engageable through the other of said sleeve portions of the sleeve member; a horizontal arm on the main stem in said cup member between the base and the top wall thereof; and a vertical lug bar on the horizontal arm, said lug bar being alignable for movement through a selected one of the chambers to permit lifting of the main stem out of engagement with the said other sleeve portion, and a padlock including a loop releasably extended through the slit and chamber to block movement of the lug bar to prevent unauthorized opening of the gate. 